About eight years ago, Justin was swiping through Tinder while on a train in France because, apparently, there's nothing to see in France. On that day, he matched with a guy who had three photos: a group shot from a color run, a photo of him wearing a paper Christmas crown, and a particularly handsome photo where the guy was smiling, simply, in front of Lake Geneva. They started to talk and the guy told Justin that he just so happened to be moving to Washington DC for a new job. Justin told him they should meet up once he got there.

Six days after the guy arrived, they met at La Tasca in DC. Justin got there early. The guy, a British man named Andrew, showed up late. He rushed in, holding a suitcase, wearing a blue blazer with patches on the sleeve. The date was nearly derailed when Justin's friend, who also happened to be on a date, was sitting one table over. Andrew thought Justin was trying to bail, which made Justin so nervous that he accidentally slipped and threw a shrimp at Andrew mid-conversation. They hit it off immediately, and dinner became drinks and drinks became a walk around DC. Justin planned to kiss Andrew at the Lincoln Memorial, and then Andrew stopped the date abruptly and said they shouldn't date. He said that he had just moved to the country and jumping into something so quickly would be irresponsible, which is the worst ending to the best first date ever.

Justin told Andrew that they could remain friends, which gave Justin time to break things off with this other guy lovingly named Texas Brian. (Texas Brian, wherever you are, we hope you dance.) Three weeks later, Justin invited Andrew to a Thanksgiving dinner his friends were hosting. Andrew brought an English trifle, which melted on the train. Justin, unwilling to take a loss, held Andrew's hand under the table that night for the first time.

Over the course of eight years, the two have learned a lot about one another: for instance, that was apparently the first and last color run that Andrew will ever do. Justin has a particularly nasty habit of throwing food. Andrew remains anxious about big life moments, and Justin does not take losing well. But what remains true is that they share a love of good stories, making the most out of situations that don't go as planned, and holding hands whenever they get the chance.